Doncaster bingo staff help raise £1m for charity

Team members at Mecca Doncaster are celebrating after helping to raise a whopping £1m for the charity Carers Trust.

The partnership between the charity and the Rank Group, which owns Mecca and Grosvenor Casinos, began in February 2014 and saw the East Laith Gate club take part in a host of different activities to raise much-needed funds.

Over the last two years team members at the club have organised a whole host of fundraising events, from 24/7 challenges and onesie days to sky dives, as well as going the extra mile by giving their time as volunteers to support local Carers Trust Network Partners.

Michelle Winfield, general manager at Mecca Doncaster, said: “It’s a sobering thought to think that three out of five of us will become carers at some point in our lives. I’d like to say a massive thanks to our team members and kind-hearted customers who have helped raise such a fantastic amount of money for Carers Trust.

“There are no words to describe the importance of what these carers do in our community, and it’s an honour to know how much we’ve been able to help make life that little bit easier for some of the unpaid carers in our area who could easily go unnoticed and unsupported.”

Gail Scott-Spicer chief executive of Carers Trust, said: “The support of Mecca and Grosvenor employees and customers over the past 2 years has been phenomenal. I’d like to offer them our heartfelt thanks for embracing this partnership, which has allowed us to continue our vital services to carers online, through our partner carers’ services and through our grants programme.

“As a direct result of the money raised by the Rank Group, we’ve been able to award grants to help over 2,000 unpaid carers which is incredible – we just can’t thank them enough.”

Young carer and former JLS band member Ortise Williams has also been helping Rank and Carers Trust celebrate the milestone.

Ortise, added: “Having been a young carer myself, I understand how difficult it can be. The £1million raised by Rank employees and their customers for Carers Trust will go a long way to making life just that bit easier for thousands of unpaid carers across the UK.”

To attend a Mecca Club you do need to be aged 18 years or over and be a customer of Mecca Bingo. Joining is free of charge and you can sign-up at www.meccabingo.com or at the club.